Digital Camera World » photo compositionhttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com
Sun, 02 Aug 2015 11:04:17 +0000en-UShourly1Photo composition tips: how to search out new views of familiar sceneshttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/30/photo-composition-tips-how-to-search-out-new-views-of-familiar-scenes/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/30/photo-composition-tips-how-to-search-out-new-views-of-familiar-scenes/#commentsWed, 29 Jul 2015 23:01:26 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=605381Taking the same sort of shot every time? In this tutorial we show you how to search out new views of familiar scenes with our expert photo composition tips.

]]>These days, much of what you might want to take pictures of has probably been photographed countless times before. To avoid shooting the same photo as everyone else out there, you need to try to find a fresh perspective.

As photographers, most of us see the ‘obvious’ way to shoot a subject instantly, but there is always another way to shoot anything. We don’t mean simply taking a step to the left or right and looking again, though that would technically give you a different view; here we are aiming to find something completely new.

With some subjects you can get a variety of angles, but you can also try moving closer to achieve greater detail and reveal something new. You can even shoot the same angle, but add a creative twist.

What we’re trying to do in this tutorial is to discover an original perspective on something that lots of people have photographed before. Mastering this skill will enhance your photography greatly; no matter what you’re shooting, thinking about new viewpoints and creative compositions is fundamental to photography.

To demonstrate different ways to photograph one subject, we headed into the depths of Exmoor to shoot the infamous Tarr Steps; the Devil’s favourite sunbathing spot, for those who aren’t familiar with the myths.

Even on a sunny day, with the area teeming with bathers and tourists, the prehistoric bridge was a great spot to shoot from, offering lots of fresh angles and perspectives for original images…

Over and under
Over- or under-exposing your shot will evoke an entirely different mood, and is a useful trick if you can only shoot from one angle. Use manual mode or exposure compensation. Whichever of these approaches you take, enhance the effect by boosting contrast in Photoshop.

Blur the subject
To change the depth of field, simply change the aperture. Reduce depth of field by setting your widest aperture and shifting your focus to something closer to the camera. Focus on the foreground to isolate this area of your image, disregarding your initial subject.

Go abstract
If all this is too tame for you, delve further down the rabbit hole. It’s easy to turn a photo into an abstract piece of art. Try some motion blur to surprise viewers. An fun trick is to set your shutter speed to a couple of seconds and zoom in on your subject while shooting.

How to discover something new

01 Bridge the gap
Our first image is a ‘standard’ shot. As the bridge is very narrow in the frame, we’ve framed it between two trees. This adds some foreground, saving the image from looking too horizontal. As we are shooting water we’ve also used a tripod to enable slower shutter speeds.

02 Play hide and seek
Next we’ve half-hidden the bridge behind these branches. Partially concealing your subject can force your viewers to take a second glance and think about the image more. This shot is taken from almost exactly the same location as the previous photo, yet the results are very different.

03 Shoot from up high
Getting up high grants entirely new perspectives. We shot the bridge from a tree. Black-and-white suits the strong tones in the branches and highlighted bridge. When climbing anything, be careful and use a padded bag – SLRs slung over your shoulder could swing against things and break.

04 Shoot from down low
Shooting the bridge from the middle of the river is a sure way to get a different image. Most people prefer to shoot from dry land. We kept the camera low in order to fill the foreground with flowing water. Make sure your tripod is completely secure. Cameras and rivers do not get along!

05 Crop in on details
There is no need to feature the whole subject. Capturing details can be just as effective. The slow shutter speeds used here allow us to see the motion of the water against the rocks. We used a four-stop ND filter, ISO L1.0 and an aperture of f/22 to achieve a three-second exposure.

06 Frame the frame
Here, instead of using trees to frame the subject, we used the shapes of the bridge to frame a landscape behind, shooting through one of the arches. Frames within an image always catch the eye. The flowing water also draws the viewer’s eye into the photo.

Final Tip
To try this exercise, pick somewhere popular and overdone. Look at what others preceding you have done. It is, however, important to go somewhere where the techniques you want to try are possible – wading into a major river, for example, would be quite tricky!

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/30/photo-composition-tips-how-to-search-out-new-views-of-familiar-scenes/feed/15 quick tips to improve the impact of colour in your photoshttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/24/5-quick-tips-to-improve-the-impact-of-colour-in-your-photos/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/24/5-quick-tips-to-improve-the-impact-of-colour-in-your-photos/#commentsFri, 24 Jul 2015 12:20:57 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=605447In this quick video guide we show you how to start thinking about colour in photography at the composition stage. We’ll explain complementary and clashing colours, how to make the most impact and how to fine-tune your compositions.

In this quick video guide we aim to change that mentality and show you how to start thinking about colour in photography at the composition stage. We’ll explain complementary and clashing colours, how to make the most impact and how to fine-tune your compositions.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/24/5-quick-tips-to-improve-the-impact-of-colour-in-your-photos/feed/210 composition mistakes photographers make (and how to avoid them)http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/15/10-composition-mistakes-photographers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/15/10-composition-mistakes-photographers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/#commentsTue, 14 Jul 2015 23:01:22 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=604628Do your images often look slightly off? We’ll help steer you right by avoiding these ten common composition mistakes and so you can start taking better photographs.

]]>Do your images often look slightly off? We’ll help steer you right by avoiding these ten common composition mistakes and so you can start taking better photographs.

1. Subject too small in the frame
Our brains do a great job of zooming in on a subject and somehow excluding the surroundings, but when you look at an image they become obvious while the subject seems small and inconsequential in the frame. Before you take a shot consider whether it would look better if you took a few steps forward or zoomed in a little with your lens so the subject really fills the frame.

2. Shooting straight-on
Many novices get preoccupied with finding a subject and forget to think about how they’re going to photograph it. If you shoot a subject straight-on you will record its appearance, but you may fail to capture any context or atmosphere.

When you’re shooting a flower in a garden, for example, rather than shooting it straight-on from the edge of the bed, think about shooting it from the side so you have the rest of the flowerbed extending into the distance to give a sense of the huge number of blooms and the depth of colour.

3. Subject in the middle
Although a central subject can sometimes work it’s often better to shoot with it over to one side following the ‘rule of thirds’. Many cameras are capable of showing a grid in the viewfinder and/or screen that can can help with this rule by splitting the scene into three equally sized columns and three equally sized rows. Your main subject should be positioned where two of the lines cross, with other image elements being located along the grid lines.

4. Nothing in the foreground
Whether you’re shooting a landscape or a still life image it pays to have something in the foreground to give the shot depth, add some scale and help draw the viewer’s eye. As well as being a waste of space, an empty foreground can act as a barrier to the eye that you feel you have to peer over.

Whether its a clump of flowers, a rock or tidemarks in the sand, most landscapes have something that can be used to inject a little interest into the foreground. When you’re constructing a still life scene it’s up to you to put something in the right place.

5. Deciding aspect ratio post capture
This point often goes hand-in-hand with an empty foreground because there’s a tendency to crop to remove the blank space and improve the composition. Post-capture cropping is fine, but you’ll usually find you make better images if you consider the aspect ratio at the shooting stage. Many cameras allow you to set aspect ratio so you can see different cropping in the viewfinder or on the main screen before taking the shot.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/15/10-composition-mistakes-photographers-make-and-how-to-avoid-them/feed/4Understanding perspective in photographyhttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/09/understanding-perspective-in-photography/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/09/understanding-perspective-in-photography/#commentsThu, 09 Jul 2015 06:01:02 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=604343Do you know how to create converging lines and control vanishing points? In this video tutorial on understanding perspective in photography we show you how to use angles to master the third dimension.

]]>Do you know how to create converging lines and control vanishing points? In this video tutorial on understanding perspective in photography we show you how to use angles to master the third dimension.

Understanding how to exploit perspective in photography is key to capturing interesting compositions. But what does the term actually mean?

In short, it’s the optical effect that makes distant objects appear much smaller than those that are closer to you.

Artists and architects have an understanding of perspective and vanishing points as they have to draw realistic views of the world.

However, as photographers we have so many other considerations to take into account before we create a picture that it’s easy to slip into the habit of shooting an interesting subject or scene right from the point where we’re standing when it first catches our eye.

The end result? A series of pictures that have all been shot with the camera held at eye level, and which have a disappointing lack of impact.

By getting to grips with some of the core principles of perspective and applying them, it can help you understand how you can change the visual relationship between elements in your composition.

While it’s tricky to manipulate perspective ‘in camera‘ in the way a draftsman might with pen and paper, there are aspects that the photographer can control through the choice of lens, angle-of-view and, crucially, how far you are from the subject when you take the picture.

In this project we’re going to explore the basic principles of perspective, and will be covering how distance and focal length affect it. We’ll also explain what linear perspective and vanishing points are, and how you can use them to improve your images.

So it’s time to move your feet and see how experimenting with perspective can help you capture pictures that pack some punch!

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/07/09/understanding-perspective-in-photography/feed/1What is aspect ratio in photography? A beginner’s guidehttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/06/12/what-is-aspect-ratio-in-photography-a-beginners-guide/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/06/12/what-is-aspect-ratio-in-photography-a-beginners-guide/#commentsThu, 11 Jun 2015 23:01:22 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=602102What is aspect ration in photographic terms? If image format is something that you tend to decide when processing files then perhaps it's time you started using your camera's aspect ratio settings. Angela Nicholson explains.

]]>What is aspect ration in photographic terms? If image format is something that you tend to decide when processing files then perhaps it’s time you started using your camera’s aspect ratio settings. Angela Nicholson explains.

3:2 aspect ratio

A 35mm film frame measures 36x24mm, which means it has an aspect ratio of 3:2. Although their actual dimensions may vary, the image sensors in full-frame and APS-C format cameras have this same aspect ratio.

Many compact cameras and Micro Four Thirds models, however, have sensors with a 4:3 aspect ratio.

As a consequence, the vast majority of images produced by digital cameras have an aspect ratio of 3:2 and 4:3. There are quite a few other aspect ratios out there that can work really well, but the in vast majority of cases these are applied using the crop tool as an after thought during image processing.

Post-capture cropping is fine, but generally images work best and have better composition if their aspect ratio is considered at the shooting stage.

It’s better to decide that you’re going to crop a landscape image to 16:9 or a wider panorama format when you’re looking at the scene, for instance, than it when you’re looking at the image and realise that the foreground is empty and dull.

A 16:9 crop can be a good solution in this situation, but you are far more likely to produce a great composition if you think about it before pressing the shutter release.

Get the view
Many cameras have an aspect ratio control in the menu and this allows you to specify the shape of the images that you capture.

In most cases, but not all, the aspect ratio is applied to the JPEG files, but the simultaneously captured raw files are uncropped and have an image from the whole sensor in the native format. This is useful if you make any framing mistakes or you want to experiment with different aspect ratios and not fully commit.

If you’re using a compact system camera (CSC) you’ll see any changes that you make to aspect ratio in the viewfinder or on the camera’s main screen.

Some DSLRs are able to display guides in the viewfinder to indicate an alternative aspect ratio, or you can shoot in Live View mode to get a live preview of the image as it will be captured.

What to choose
Most cameras that offer aspect ratio selection have settings such as 3:2, 4:3, 1:1, 16:9 and 5:4, but you can compose images in any ratio with a little imagination.

It takes time to become familiar with composing in a new aspect ratio, so once you’ve decided which one you want to try, stick with it for a few days, maybe a week or so and only shoot in that aspect ratio before you move on to another one.

Once you are familiar with composing images in a variety of formats you’ll find that you become much better at assessing a scene and deciding which aspect ratio would suit it best.

Square format or 1:1 images are very popular at the moment, thanks in part to the retro image craze. It’s a format that works especially well with symmetrical compositions, but it’s also very popular for portraits and can be good for landscapes.

We see 16:9 images regularly on our TV’s, but for obvious reasons they’re only ever in landscape format. This orientation works very well, and it’s popular with landscape scenes, but 16:9 upright images can also look good.

While you don’t see them as often these days 5:4 images used to be commonplace in the hay days of large format cameras. Again it can be used for a wide variety of subjects, but it can be a very good choice for portraits.

How to compose
Composing an image in 16:9 or square format isn’t vastly different from composing one in the more standard 4:3 or 3:2 ratios. The same things are important; subject placement and spacing.

However, the dividing lines that guide composition when following the rule of thirds shift according to the frame’s proportions. They should still be equidistant, but the grid looks different in a 16:9 and a square image.

As mentioned earlier, thanks to their equally sized sides, square images can work very well with symmetrical compositions and central subjects. If you decide to go for symmetry it’s important to be precise and accurate.

Once you’re comfortable with following the rule of thirds with each aspect ratio, start pushing the boundaries and deliberate break the rule.

Get the crop
Even if you set aspect ratio on your camera, you’re likely to want to crop raw files with a specific aspect ratio. This is easy in Adobe Camera Raw, it’s just a case of clicking and holding on the crop tool until the dropdown list of options is revealed.

You can select one of the preset options or set your own custom value. Then, when you use the crop tool, it will automatically set the correct aspect ratio.

It’s just as easy to crop JPEG images with a specified aspect ratio in most image editing software. With Photoshop CC you just select the crop tool and then set the aspect ratio that you want via the Ratio dropdown box in the tool options bar at the top of the screen.

Alternatively, you can add your own figures for the width and height in the boxes alongside.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/06/12/what-is-aspect-ratio-in-photography-a-beginners-guide/feed/0150 photography tips for planning, composing, focusing and exposing imageshttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/05/29/150-photography-tips-for-planning-composing-focusing-and-exposing-images/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/05/29/150-photography-tips-for-planning-composing-focusing-and-exposing-images/#commentsFri, 29 May 2015 15:16:53 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=601444To help you get the most from your photography time, we’ve come up with our list of the top 150 photography tips and techniques to help you get better images. You’ll find all you need to know here, from the basics of setting up your camera and planning your shoot, to how to achieve well-exposed and sharp shots with the minimum of fuss.

]]>To help you get the most from your photography time, we’ve come up with our list of the top 150 photography tips and techniques to help you get better images. You’ll find all you need to know here, from the basics of setting up your camera and planning your shoot, to how to achieve well-exposed and sharp shots with the minimum of fuss.

You’ll learn the best autofocus modes to use, and when to use them; how to check your exposures and how to get the colours right in-camera; and how you can use the power of your software to help polish the results even more.

There are also loads of tips on composition, light and creativity, so once you’ve nailed the technicalities, but may be struggling for inspiration or simply want to improve your shots, you’ll find the answers right here.

Whether you’re taking your first steps with your camera, or a more experienced shooter, and no matter what subject you want to shoot, there are tips and techniques here for everyone. All you need to do is use the right one next time you are out shooting, and you’ll come back with your best shots ever.

03 Image review
In the playback menu, you can set whether or not the camera shows the image immediately after you’ve taken it.

04 Set the rotate upright review
Select whether images shot with the camera upright are rotated when you review them.

05 File naming
Change the file naming to something more personal, such as your initials, to make it easier to keep track of shots.

06 Turn beeps off
Make your shooting less intrusive by turning off the focus confirmation and timer beeps in the set-up menu.

07 Use the right file format
For the best quality images you need to use raw format files, but these can take longer to write and need processing. For easier and quicker sharing, choose the highest-quality JPEG mode.

08 Set auto distortion
Basic kit lenses can often produce slightly curved results, especially at the wide-angle setting and at the edges of the image. Set the automatic distortion or lens correction to On to give better results.

09 Set the right colour space
If you are shooting JPEGs, you will achieve considerably better results if you set the colour space to SRGB for images that are going to be viewed on-screen or on the web. Adobe RGB is the better option for prints and image manipulation.

10 Long-exposure noise reduction
Setting this to On will help reduce noise for exposures of several seconds or more. Be aware that this takes time though, so you will have to wait a little while between exposures.

11 Research the sun position before you go
Whether you’re photographing landscapes or outdoor portraits, the position of the sun is crucial, so check where it’s going to be using a sun position website or a smartphone or tablet app such as the Photographer’s Ephemeris. Otherwise you could turn up at the perfect location, only to find the sun is behind a mountain or building, or shining in the wrong direction.

12 Change the timers
Many makes and models of camera allow you to customise the various lengths of time that the review, display and metering systems are active for. Why not have a go at setting them to suit your particular shooting style?

13 Customise the Fn button
Lots of cameras these days allow you to assign a function to the Fn button. Just select the one you use the most often, such as ISO, spot metering or exposure bracketing and you’ll be able to save time.

15 Check the map
It’s always worth checking a detailed map, online satellite map or street view of any location where you are planning to shoot. Doing this before you set off means you don’t waste time trying to find the right spot or route to your location.

16 Editing Eureka!
Check that the firmware is up to date on your camera, and update it if there is a newer version available.

17 Remember to format cards
Get in the habit of formatting the cards in your camera as soon as you have transferred photos off them, to ensure that they are ready for the next time you want to use them.

28 Clean lenses and filters
If you’ve been shooting outside, always remember to clean your lenses and filters as soon as possible when you get back, rather than leaving them until you next use your camera.

29 Take a location snap
Shoot signs or information boards: they can be invaluable for helping you remember where and what you have shot. If you use a cameraphone with GPS, you can also use the location data in the mapping feature of Lightroom 5.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/05/29/150-photography-tips-for-planning-composing-focusing-and-exposing-images/feed/1Photo composition tips: how to break the rules with landscapeshttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/05/01/photo-composition-tips-how-to-break-the-rules-with-landscapes/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/05/01/photo-composition-tips-how-to-break-the-rules-with-landscapes/#commentsFri, 01 May 2015 09:32:03 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=600413Take your landscape photos to the next level with these creative composition and framing tricks.

]]>Learn how to take your landscape photos to the next level with these creative composition tips. We show you the camera techniques and framing tricks that can help you come back with more unconventional images of popular photography locations.

When it comes to composing a landscape photo there are a multitude of rules we’re instructed to follow. There’s the rule of thirds, which states that we should place interesting objects on the ‘third’ lines within the frame.

Then there’s the ‘foreground interest’ rule, which has us all scrambling around to find an attractive rock or plant to include in the foreground of our shot.

Often, by following these rules we’ll end up with a great photo. But if we simply apply them by rote to every scene we come across, we run the risk that all of our images will start to look very similar, and probably very similar to other photographers’ shots as well.

So here’s a challenge for you. Go out and look for six totally different compositions in one location. Look for unconventional angles, and manoeuvre your subject around the frame in interesting ways.

If you’re not sure how to break the rules, take a look at your own portfolio. The sort of shot you take over and over? Don’t repeat that!

It can be rather liberating to shoot what feels right for that particular location, in that light, at that moment, rather than squeezing the scene in front of you into a conventionally ‘good’ composition.

It might lead to a killer shot or a complete dud, but one thing it certainly won’t lead to is a series of photographs that were pre-planned in your head before you even set eyes on the location.

We went to Strumble Lighthouse in Pembrokeshire, Wales on a mission to look for new and interesting angles at a popular photography spot. See the results on the next page, along with a few suggestions to get you started on your own challenge. And remember, the only rule is: there are no rules!

Camera accessories to use and settings to choose

Tripods
As with all landscape photography, a tripod is an invaluable tool to have for this project. When the risk of camera shake is removed, longer shutter speeds enable narrower apertures and lower ISOs for maximum image quality.

Filters
No landscape photographer should be without neutral density filters and ND grads. By reducing the light that reaches your sensor they enable long exposures to capture a calming motion blur in water and clouds.

Aperture
We’re often told to use narrow apertures for landscapes. But as we’re being unconventional, why not go for a wide aperture for shallow depth of field? Putting the focus on something new can add intrigue to your shots.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/05/01/photo-composition-tips-how-to-break-the-rules-with-landscapes/feed/2Pro composition tips: how to make the most of any subject or scenehttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/20/pro-composition-tips-how-to-make-the-most-of-any-subject-or-scene/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/20/pro-composition-tips-how-to-make-the-most-of-any-subject-or-scene/#commentsSun, 19 Apr 2015 23:01:07 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=589039When you find a great subject or location that inspires you, make the most of it by really working the scene to maximise your chances of shooting a perfect image. Here's how it's done...

]]>When you find a great subject or location that inspires you, make the most of it by really working the scene to maximise your chances of shooting a perfect image.

One of the mistakes many novices make when they find something they want to photograph is to lift their camera to their eye, take a shot and then move on to something else; at the very most they might try a few different angles while looking through the viewfinder before pressing the shutter release.

One of the reasons pros seem to be able to nail every image is that – more often than not – they actually don’t take a single image.

Instead, they take literally dozens of images, changing everything from viewpoint to focal length, until they’re sure that they’ve exhausted every possibility.

Not only does this result in a nice variety of shots, it also increases your chances of shooting a winner.

02 Change perspective
Take a look at the huge variety of images taken at any well-known location and you’ll notice that it’s not just the shooting position or lighting conditions that change in these pictures – it’s also the perspective.

This is determined by how close you are to the subject, but also by the focal length of the lens you use to take the shot.

By simply changing lenses or zooming in or out it’s possible to shoot a number of completely different shots from exactly the same spot.

So try shooting everything from extreme wide-angle right up to telephoto and see what you can create.

03 Perfect the composition
When it comes to composition, a measured approach is usually the best way forward. Sure, sometimes it’s necessary to react quickly and shoot on the hoof, but it usually pays to take your time and perfect the composition.

The best way to do this is to use a tripod, so that you can frame the shot very precisely and make sure all the elements of the picture look right before pressing the shutter.

Small adjustments in the position of the camera can make a big difference to the perspective, especially with a wide-angle lens, so get down low as well, to really emphasise foreground interest.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/20/pro-composition-tips-how-to-make-the-most-of-any-subject-or-scene/feed/1Using patterns in photography: 5 fresh ideas for still life and naturehttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/13/using-patterns-in-photography-5-fresh-ideas-for-still-life-and-nature/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/13/using-patterns-in-photography-5-fresh-ideas-for-still-life-and-nature/#commentsMon, 13 Apr 2015 11:42:08 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=589008Using natural patterns in photography is a great way to improve your compositional skills, and can also help transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, as nature pro Mark Hamblin explains…

]]>Using natural patterns in photography is a great way to improve your compositional skills, and can also help transform the ordinary into something extraordinary, as nature pro Mark Hamblin explains…

All images by Mark Hamblin

Pattern photography ideas: 01 Keep your eyes open

Develop an eye for the endless range of patterns offered by the natural world, from lines of trees to the veins in a leaf

The thinking behind the shot
Unlike many other forms of photography, you don’t often plan to head out and shoot natural patterns – they just present themselves while you’re out photographing something else.

But they only present themselves if your eyes are open to this kind of image, and can spot the potential of seemingly mundane subjects.

On the morning I took this shot, I was really hoping to shoot a much wider view that included an expanse of foreground rocks extending across a coastal bay to some distant hills, but this shot wasn’t on the cards due to the overcast light.

So instead, I pointed my lens downwards to concentrate on the shape and form of the subtly-coloured rocks and pebbles at my feet.

Technique Essentials
When shooting a plan view of a relatively flat subject, mount your camera on a tripod directly above the centre of the subject so that the plane of the subject is parallel to your camera’s sensor.

This will ensure that the subject is sharp from corner to corner when using a small aperture of f/11 or f/16.

Pattern photography ideas: 02 Restore order

Much of nature is pretty chaotic, but by eliminating extraneous distractions it’s possible to create a sense of order within a tightly cropped frame

The thinking behind the shot
During a visit to America’s Yellowstone National Park in spring, my eyes were drawn to this small stand of aspen trees, which had a uniformity to them that I felt would work well as an irregular pattern.

The wider scene was attractive, and had the light been different I might have been tempted to shoot a more ‘classic’ landscape view, but by honing in on what I considered to be the most visually interesting part of the landscape, I was able to create a much stronger image from the pattern of tree trunks.

Filling the frame with just the trees also helped to create the illusion of a much larger forest, as the eye can’t see beyond the edges of the frame, so the brain effectively fills in the blanks.

Technique Essentials
In bright sunshine I wouldn’t have attempted to take this shot, as it would have resulted in a very high-contrast image with over-exposed highlights or under-exposed shadows – or even a combination of the two.

Thanks to the overcast light, however, I was able to capture plenty of detail in the shadows, mid-tones and highlights.

Composition Essentials
The key to this shot is the framing. By zooming in on the trunks of the trees, all the other chaotic elements on either side were eliminated from the picture to leave an ordered pattern of white trunks set against non-competing shades of green.

The trunks were also carefully composed so they sat neatly within the frame, and extended from top to bottom throughout.

Technique Essentials
The area covered by this photograph is no more than a few centimetres across, which meant I had to use a dedicated macro lens to get close enough to fill the frame.

At such close working distances depth of field is minimal, even when shooting at very small apertures like f/16, so the most important thing here was to choose a flat area of moss to photograph and then to align the camera to that the sensor was perfectly parallel to the bed of moss.

A low ISO setting was also used to maximise image quality – a must for macro work.

Composition Essentials
The regularity of the patterns in the moss meant that composition was relatively straightforward, but I tried to include as many entire ‘star’ shapes as possible within the frame, and to avoid cropping too many through their centres.

It was also important to find the most even spread of moss, without any large dark gaps between the foliage.

]]>http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/13/using-patterns-in-photography-5-fresh-ideas-for-still-life-and-nature/feed/0A layman’s guide to good photo compositionhttp://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/04/a-laymans-guide-to-good-photo-composition/
http://www.digitalcameraworld.com/2015/04/04/a-laymans-guide-to-good-photo-composition/#commentsFri, 03 Apr 2015 23:01:52 +0000http://dcw.foxtrot.future.net.uk/?p=588710What is photo composition and why is it important? If you’re new to photography you might understandably have a few questions about how to compose a photograph. In our latest layman’s guide we answer some of the most common questions new photographers have.

]]>What is photo composition and why is it important? If you’re new to photography you might understandably have a few questions about how to compose a photograph. In our latest layman’s guide we answer some of the most common questions new photographers have.

The leading lines created by the walls are obvious, but the strong lines in the coat also contribute. The grouping of the darkest shapes and the background arch also fix your attention on the model’s face.

What is photo composition?

Put simply, composition is how you decide to frame your subject, and it can make or break your photograph. The way the elements of your photograph are arranged within the frame is ultimately what will decide whether other people enjoy looking at your image.

So it’s important to consider the composition, then?

Absolutely! It doesn’t matter how good your exposure is or how amazing your subject might be: without carefully considered composition, you won’t consistently shoot high-quality photographs.

When you put the viewfinder to your eye or look at the rear display, you are making a decision about what is or isn’t in your photograph. You are effectively designing your shot, and it’s vitally important that you make a conscious decision to make the best of every opportunity.

Here at Digital Camera World we like the quote from Henri Cartier-Bresson, who urged that “composition must be one of our constant preoccupations”.

Some guidelines work better with certain subjects – but all can be adapted to any situation, to a degree. For example, I find the most useful guideline for landscapes and wildlife is the rule of thirds, which is an imaginary grid (like a noughts and crosses grid) drawn across the frame.

If your focal point or points are placed on the intersections, it can help balance the overall image.

A background point of interest offsets the group of trees in the foreground – with both on ‘third’ points.

But how do I do this in the field?

Like other compositional principles, the rule of thirds isn’t an exact science but a creative guideline. You don’t really need a physical grid to hold against your scene.

Instead, have the image you are framing visible in Live View on the back of your camera and imagine the noughts-and-crosses grid drawn across your image.

Take a look at how the elements are arranged, and re-frame it if isn’t balanced. You will find that the more you consider compositional guidelines like the rule of thirds, the more you will be naturally framing your images in a harmonious way.

Is there a danger in becoming too rigid by following compositional guidelines?

Yes – I think it can mean we get too predictable with compositions and don’t try even more creative framing. However, I really believe it’s best to learn the basics of composition and use them to improve your images before thinking outside of the box.